Charleston, WV – November 14, 2024 – Advantage Valley, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of nine new members to its Board of Directors, each bringing a wealth of expertise and commitment to the region’s continued growth. The new board members are:
- Virgil Underwood, CEO of Boone Memorial Hospital
- Ian Henry, Partner at Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP
- James L. (J.L.) Brydie, Associate at Spilman Thomas & Battle (Huntington)
- Amy Petry, Project Director at Kanawha County Commission
- Rebecca Polan, CEO and President of REO Processing/REO Logistics
- Paul S. White, Executive Vice President at Assured Partners
- Mara Boggs, President and CEO of Charleston Area Alliance
- Joshua Arthur, Vice President of Commercial Banking at Truist Bank
- Megan Archer, President & CEO of Huntington Chamber of Commerce
In addition to expanding its board, Advantage Valley has appointed Sam Lever as the new Expanding Markets Coordinator. Lever, a 2020 graduate of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in Government, brings experience from his three years teaching with Teach for America in Eastern Kentucky and his work on economic development projects in Martin County, KY. As Expanding Markets Coordinator, Lever will oversee program operations, delivery, and data collection for this initiative.
The Expanding Markets program, recently boosted by a $1.6 million POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is a three-year effort to diversify and strengthen manufacturing and business services in the region. The program’s goals are to support 225 businesses, foster 200 new jobs, and attract $25 million in new investments by increasing market reach and bolstering local supply chains. Key partners include the Charleston Area Alliance, Huntington Area Development Council, Jackson, Mason, and Putnam County Development Authorities, Marshall University’s Advanced Manufacturing Program, and the U.S. Commercial Service. The initiative focuses on enhancing economic resilience in coal-impacted communities.
This program builds on the success of a prior Advantage Valley three-year initiative recognized by the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) with a Community and Economic Development Award for its innovative approach to regional Business Retention and Expansion.
Advantage Valley’s Expanding Markets program also benefits from financial and strategic support provided by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the Just Transition Fund, and regional economic development authorities, as well as Marshall University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center.
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Advantage Valley, Inc. is a regional economic development organization with a mission to grow economic opportunity in the Charleston-Huntington Metro Area by increasing investment in the region, leveraging resources, and building collaboration among community stakeholders.